Even in the offseason, the Phillies beat the Nationals

The Phillies have beaten the Nationals 51 times in the team's past 72 meetings, and this offseason, just when it seemed the Nationals may have finally struck their own blow in the mismatch, the Phillies won again. The Nationals may have signed Jayson Werth away from the Phillies in free agency, but late last night, the Phillies showed one reason why they let Werth walk. They were saving that money for Clifton Phifer Lee.

The gap in the National League East, the one the Nationals tried to narrow with the signing of Werth, just grew wider. The Phillies stunned the baseball world -- especially the Yankees and Rangers -- late last night when they signed Lee to a five-year, $120 million contract. Their 2011 rotation is now Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Who Cares.

The Nationals have 18 games against the Phillies, which means there's a chance that 15 of their games -- almost 10 percent of their schedule -- will come against Halladay, Lee, Oswalt or Hamels. There are going to be plenty of fast games at Citizens Bank Park next year. The Phillies' pitching dominance, on paper, increases the degree of difficulty for an NL East team even contending for the wild card.

The Phillies' signing of Lee may force the Nationals to reevaluate their plans for 2011. With the Phillies stocked, with Stephen Strasburg out until 2012 and with the Nationals' lineup still developing, does it make sense to go all out and trade for a Zack Greinke or a Matt Garza, both of whom are under contract for only the next two years?

At this point, it doesn't seem like either is the piece that would put the Nationals over the top. December is no time to wave a white flag. But the more prudent move may be to sign a free agent like Carl Pavano, rely on an excellent bullpen set a foundation for next year. The Nationals could make their push for a true No. 1 starter next year, when they can pair him with Strasburg and truly contend with the Phillies' arms.

The Werth signing signaled that the Nationals are hungry to compete. The Lee signing offered a reminder of the distance they still must cover and the time it will take to do so.

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